2022 Lexus LX revealed ahead of Australian debut, four seat limo confirmed – UPDATE

UPDATE, November 19: Lexus has confirmed its four-seat flagship version of the new LX will come to Australia in 2022 – the first time this specification has been offered globally.

Our original story below has been updated to contain all the details now known.

The story to here

October 14: The new-generation 2022 Lexus LX has been given a virtual unveiling today, ahead of an Australian launch set to occur sometime in 2022.

Revealed in LX 600 and LX 500d form, the big luxury barge introduces new twin-turbo petrol and diesel engines to replace the 270kW/530Nm 5.7-litre petrol V8 and 200kW/650Nm 4.5-litre diesel V8 that drove its predecessors, the LX 570 and LX 450d.

The V35A-FTS twin-turbo six, which debuted in the LS 500 limousine with 310kW/600Nm on offer – but also 290kW and 649Nm in the new Tundra pickup – turns its outputs up to 305kW and 650Nm in LX form.

Opting for the LX 500d – using the F33A-FTV diesel offered with the new LandCruiser 300 Series – will give buyers a little less power to play with, at 227kW, while dialling that all-important torque number up to 700Nm.

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There's presently no word of any hybrid offering, and with a diesel in the line-up – satisfying buyers looking for a towing hero – a hybrid variant would seem unlikely for our market.

If such a model is introduced, however – and reports online have suggested it might – buyers could perhaps look forward to the same twin-turbo V6 and electric motor combination offered with the LS500h.

The petrol and diesel powertrains are both matched to a new 10-speed automatic transmission, again mirroring the closely related LandCruiser 300.

Power is sent to all four corners through Toyota's AWD Integrated Management system, linking the steering assist, brake and throttle control, transmission and drive torque distribution to optimise power delivery and overall handling.

Fuel consumption for the LX models is yet to be confirmed, but the diesel-powered LandCruiser 300 claims combined figure of 8.9L/100km.

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Both the LX and its LC300 stablemate are built on Toyota's GA-F platform, built to the same 2850mm wheelbase as before while saving around 200kg in weight – thanks to the use of aluminium for its bonnet, roof, doors and tailgate panels.

The new LX's frame is claimed to be 20 per cent more rigid than its predecessor, with more spot welds and high-tensile steel helping there – along with the use of structural adhesives to the door openings and floor.

Assisting weight distribution and lowering its centre of gravity, the LX has also had its powertrain position shifted 70mm rearwards and 28mm further down.

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Suspension is by a high-mounted double-wishbone design at the front. Coil springs are set for comfort, with 15mm more rebound to keep feathers unruffled on rough roads.

At the rear, the trailing-link rigid axle sees suspension arms and shocks tuned for comfort, with the latter designed on a more vertical setting for improved damping while offering a 20mm increase in rebound stroke.

This is all assisted by Adaptive Variable Suspension, with dynamically adjustable damping available for comfort and handling where the drive modes demand it.

Active Height Control is featured, automatically optimising ride height with Normal, Hi1 and Hi2 settings while on the move, and a Low position when parked. A spring-rate switching system also reduces the time to adjust the vehicle's height.

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For off-roading, the LX claims a maximum stable inclination angle of 44 degrees, climbing ability of 45 degrees and a maximum wading depth of 700mm.

Toyota's Multi-Terrain Select is featured, operating now in both high and low range to optimise braking, driving force and suspension with six modes – Auto (for the first time), Dirt, Sand, Mud, Deep Snow, and Rock.

Crawl Control and Downhill Assist Control are also on board, leaving the driver to focus on steering across uneven surfaces.

Electronic differential locks are featured at both the front and rear wheels, and a new electric power steering system replaces the conventional hydraulic design.

Off-road driving is assisted further by a Multi-Terrain Monitor, with four cameras – front, rear and under the exterior mirrors – providing a view of the space around the vehicle on the big 12.3-inch main display.

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A full Australian equipment list is still to be revealed, but today's global press release shows the new LX can be had with 10-speaker Lexus Premium Sound or a whopping great 25-speaker Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound ("the highest number ever in a Lexus").

New rear entertainment is also available with a touch display, to be controlled either from the front row for parents or directly in the rear as needed.

Apple Carplay and Android Auto are both offered, although, at the time of publishing, it's unclear if this is in a wired or wireless form. (Brands will usually make a point of wireless connectivity if it exists.)

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Safety kit includes Lexus Safety System+, a pre-collision technology that can detect cyclists in daylight and pedestrians "in low-light conditions".

Oncoming vehicles can be detected before right turns, along with pedestrians crossing the street when turning right or left.

Emergency steering assist is featured, along with new AI-assisted lane-tracing assist, promising "smoother and less disruptive" steering assistance.

Road-sign assist uses a camera to capture major road signs and displays them on the vehicle's multi-information display, while a BladeScan adaptive high-beam system broadens the range of illumination, enabling the driver to recognise pedestrians and road signs without impeding the visibility of other road users.

Australia will also receive the flagship four-seat Ultra variant featuring dual captain's chairs, according to Lexus Australia Chief Executive Scott Thompson.

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Shared with the Lexus LS luxury sedan, the reclining second-row seats feature massage functions and will sit on either side of a centre console with a touchscreen from which to control the seats and entertainment displays.

When will the 2022 Lexus LX come to Australia?

Specific launch timing for the new LX 600 and LX 500d models is still to be confirmed – likely driven in part by the ongoing global COVID situation and related shortages in semi-conductors – but a 2022 debut is expected.

Watch for more on the new LX to come in the weeks and months ahead.